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Hawkesbury co-trainers Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard bounced back into the winning list on home turf today – and it could not have been better timed!
The popular couple landed the Independent Liquor Group Maiden Plate (1500m) with $13 chance Coppersonic (Jason Collett) to give the sparingly-raced mare's Sydney breeder-owner Terry Huett a fitting birthday gift.
Coppersonic 's victory ended a frustrating run on the outer for Team Attard, which hadn't won a race since More Joie also scored at Hawkesbury on March 16, only 15 days after $31 roughie Rockscape had scored at Cowra.
"We've been through a quiet period, but things are looking up," Jason Attard said this evening.
"Whilst there are only a few horses racing at present, we have a good team in work including a number of 'babies' and others getting ready to resume.
"We will be trialling three horses at Hawkesbury on Monday. Psicopatico and More Joie will contest separate 800m Open heats and the so far unraced three-year-old filly Isla will contest another 800m heat against her own age and sex.
"Psicopatico sustained a tendon injury in winning his Maiden at Newcastle in May last year, and we have given him plenty of rehab to make it back to the track."
Coppersonic, a five-year-old mare by six-times winner Fast 'N' Famous, is raced by Huett and his family.
She is the sole foal of her dam Canny Mistress, who faced the starter only three times; a tendon injury curtailing her racing career.
"Even though Coppersonic has raced only four times, it has been a blessing in disguise as she has matured," Attard said.
"After her recent third to Different Strokes at Wyong, I was confident she would run well again today.
"But there were a few chances in the race, so it was a terrific bonus to see her win.
"Now that she has broken through, hopefully she can go on with it."
The Attards nearly clinched a Hawkesbury double when stablemate Oh Golly Gosh ($9) finished strongly, but couldn't quite overhaul Crystal Waters ($7), giving jockey Glyn Schofield a comeback success, in the XXXX Gold Provincial & Country Maiden Handicap (1300m).
. Lucy Keegan-Attard opened a Go Fund Me page for fellow Hawkesbury trainer Mick Attard (no relation) after he suffered critical injuries when double-barrelled (kicked hard) by one of his horses (West Elk) on August 1 as he was preparing him to race at Kembla Grange that afternoon.
"As well as training a small team himself, 'Uncle Mick' also helped us out with our horses," Jason Attard explained.
"Mick is in Westmead Hospital, and has a long, slow recovery process ahead.
"He is a very popular member of the Hawkesbury racing community, and any donations to help with his medical bills and recovery are gratefully received."
An initial Go Fund Me goal of $10,000 had reached nearly $19,000 this evening.
. Tim Clark book-ended today's program on Vittoriosa ($3.10) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Moralist ($4.40) for Matt Smith to lift him to an early lead in the jockeys' premiership.
With six wins, he is narrowly ahead of Hugh Bowman (5), who won on Lambdoma Energy ($4.80) for in-form Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan in the Pink Finss Charity Maiden Plate (1000m).
Regan Bayliss also clinched a double, scoring in consecutive races on Noble Soldier ($5), who finished strongly, and $15 chance Microna, who ran his rivals ragged by leading throughout.
Clark's win on Vittoriosa provided the Waterhouse-Bott team with their fourth Hawkesbury winner of the new season, providing them with an early lead in the trainers' premiership.
